[November 07, 2012]

Primerica Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

Primerica, Inc. (NYSE: PRI) announced today financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012. Total revenues were $299.1 million in the third quarter of 2012 and net income was $45.6 million, or $0.72 per diluted share. Operating revenues increased by 7% to $295.2 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared with $276.0 million in the third quarter of 2011. Net operating income grew by 21% to $45.1 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2012, compared with $37.3 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2011. The year-over-year results reflect the continued growth in Term Life income as well as the impact of favorable market performance on Investment and Savings Products sales, client asset-based earnings and Canadian segregated fund DAC amortization. Net investment income was enhanced by certain unusual items during the quarter but otherwise reflects the expected pressure of lower invested assets from stock repurchases over the past 12 months and lower market yields. Net income return on stockholders' equity (ROE) was 14.0% (15.1% on a net operating income and adjusted stockholders' equity basis) for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

Rick Williams, Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer said, "Our strong third quarter results were marked by solid core performance across business segments. Our long-term recurring life insurance revenues coupled with positive Investment and Savings Product performance and share repurchases drove net operating income return on adjusted stockholders' equity to 15.1%, underscoring the strength of our franchise."

John Addison, Chairman of Primerica Distribution and Co-Chief Executive Officer said, "The size of our life licensed sales force remained consistent with the prior quarter and prior year period despite the challenging year-over-year comparisons. Recruiting and licensing of new representatives were significantly higher in the prior year period following the short-term recruiting initiative launched at our convention. Our continued focus is on growing the size of our sales force to generate long-term organic growth."

Distribution Results

Segment Results

Primerica operates in two primary business segments: Term Life Insurance and Investment and Savings Products, and has a third segment, Corporate and Other Distributed Products. Results for the segments are shown below.

Term Life Insurance. Operating revenues grew by 16% to $164.0 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the same period a year ago. Net premiums were up 17% from the prior year period reflecting the continued layering of New Term policies onto our recurring in force premium base. Allocated net investment income increased year-over-year consistent with the growth in Term Life assets. Net investment income also benefitted from the allocated portion of $1.8 million from securities called from our bond portfolio and a $1.0 million recovery of interest from a previously defaulted fixed income security.

Operating income before income taxes increased by 22% over the prior year period to $48.6 million reflecting revenue growth and higher commission deferrals partially offset by growth in premium-related expenses and higher interest expense related to the redundant reserve financing executed earlier this year. Incurred claims were consistent with the third quarter of 2011 while persistency experience was moderately lower for New Term and moderately higher for Legacy compared with the prior year period.

Sequentially, operating income before income taxes declined by 6% reflecting the second quarter strong seasonal persistency and lower incurred claims, partially offset by continued New Term premium growth and higher allocated investment income.

Investment and Savings Products. Operating revenues increased 4% to $101.2 million and operating income before income taxes grew 18% to $31.6 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the third quarter of 2011, reflecting a 5% increase in our average client asset values consistent with market performance. We also continue to experience a modest shift in sales mix towards managed accounts, which provide ongoing asset-based revenues rather than sales-based revenues. Canadian segregated fund DAC amortization was favorably impacted in the third quarter of 2012 by positive equity returns resulting in a $2.6 million year-over-year reduction in DAC amortization.

Sequentially, operating income before income taxes increased 7% compared with the second quarter of 2012 primarily reflecting the continued growth in the managed account product client asset values and lower Canadian segregated fund DAC amortization, partially offset by seasonally higher sales in the second quarter.

Corporate and Other Distributed Products. Operating revenues decreased by 18% to $30.0 million in the third quarter of 2012 from the third quarter of 2011 largely reflecting lower net investment income due to our lower invested asset base following our stock repurchases over the past year. In the third quarter of 2012, employee merit increases and another layer of stock compensation increased ongoing expenses by $1.3 million, but were more than offset by the prior year's $2.7 million discontinuation of carrying inventory in our print operations. Year-over-year, operating losses before income taxes for this segment increased by $3.0 million to $10.4 million primarily due to lower investment income.

Taxes

Our effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2012 was 35.4%, compared with 36.8% for the same quarter a year ago primarily due to a lower effective Canadian tax rate in 2012. The lower rate in 2012 was caused by decreasing Canadian statutory income tax rates combined with capital planning decisions for Canadian unremitted earnings.

Capital and Liquidity

The $75 million share repurchase program that commenced in the third quarter of 2012 was completed in October, when the Company repurchased $60 million of Primerica common stock beneficially owned by funds affiliated with Warburg Pincus, LLC at a purchase price of $28.74 per share. Prior to this transaction, we repurchased 488,214 shares of common stock for $14.3 million through open market repurchases.

As of September 30, 2012, our investments and cash totaled $2.18 billion compared with $2.02 billion as of June 30, 2012. Our invested asset portfolio had a net unrealized gain of $191.6 million (net of unrealized losses of $4.2 million) at September 30, 2012, up from a net unrealized gain of $166.7 million (net of unrealized losses of $6.2 million) at June 30, 2012. Net realized gains for the quarter were $3.9 million, which included $0.2 million of other-than-temporary impairments.

Our debt-to-capital ratio was 21.9% as of September 30, 2012 following our July public debt offering of $375 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due in 2022. Primerica Life Insurance Company's statutory risk-based capital (RBC) ratio is estimated to be in excess of 570% as of September 30, 2012, and the Company remains well-positioned to support existing operations and fund future growth.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We also present operating revenues, operating income before income taxes, net operating income and adjusted stockholders' equity. Operating revenues, operating income before income taxes and net operating income exclude the impact of realized investment gains and losses for all periods presented. Operating income before income taxes and net operating income exclude the expense associated with our IPO-related equity awards for all periods presented. Adjusted stockholders' equity excludes the impact of net unrealized gains and losses on invested assets for all periods presented. Our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the definitions of similar measures used by other companies. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating our financial performance. Furthermore, management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures may provide users with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results of prior periods as they are expected to be reflective of our core ongoing business. These measures have limitations, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Reconciliations of non-GAAP to GAAP financial measures are attached to this release.

Earnings Webcast Information

Primerica will hold a webcast Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 10:00 am EDT, to discuss third quarter results. This release and a detailed financial supplement will be posted on Primerica's website. Investors are encouraged to review these materials. To access the webcast go to http://investors.primerica.com at least 15 minutes prior to the event to register, download and install any necessary software.

A replay of the call will be available for approximately 30 days on Primerica's website, http://investors.primerica.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained in this press release, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. Those risks and uncertainties include, among others, our failure to continue to attract and license new recruits, retain sales representatives or license or maintain the licensing of our sales representatives; our or our sales representatives' violation of or non-compliance with laws and regulations; incorrect assumptions used to price our insurance policies; the failure of our investment products to remain competitive with other investment options; our failure to meet RBC standards or other minimum capital and surplus requirements; a downgrade or potential downgrade in our insurance subsidiaries' financial strength ratings or our senior debt ratings; inadequate or unaffordable reinsurance or the failure of our reinsurers to perform their obligations; heightened standards of conduct or more stringent licensing requirements for our sales representatives; the inability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions; the loss of key personnel; and general changes in economic and financial conditions, including the effects of credit deterioration and interest rate fluctuations on our invested asset portfolio. These and other risks and uncertainties affecting us are more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available in the "Investor Relations" section of our website at http://investors.primerica.com. Primerica assumes no duty to update its forward-looking statements as of any future date.

About Primerica, Inc.

Primerica, Inc., headquartered in Duluth, GA, is a leading distributor of financial products to middle-income families in North America. Primerica representatives educate their Main Street clients about how to better prepare for a more secure financial future by assessing their needs and providing appropriate solutions through term life insurance which we underwrite, and mutual funds, annuities and other financial products, which we distribute primarily on behalf of third parties. In addition, Primerica provides an entrepreneurial full or part-time business opportunity for individuals seeking to earn income by distributing the company's financial products. We insure more than 4.3 million lives and approximately 2 million clients maintain investment accounts with us. Primerica is a member of the Russell 2000 stock index and is traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PRI".

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